In this episode of The Hardest Part, host Kieron Banerji is joined by Bria Salmena to unpack the winding creative journey behind “Closer to You,” a standout track from her debut solo album Big Dog.

Written across two cities—Bria in Los Angeles, Duncan Hay Jennings in Toronto—the song came to life through long-distance collaboration and relentless back-and-forth. What started as an acoustic skeleton became a hybrid of organic and electronic textures, reshaped again and again as Bria searched for the right emotional tone. But the hardest part? Landing the chorus. Or even deciding if it was a chorus. Bria reflects on the frustration of not finding that “aha” moment and how letting go of control, embracing creative blocks, and learning to trust the process ultimately allowed the song to take its final form.

She also shares how the lyric “move me closer to you” evolved from a call toward someone else into a deeper pull inward—and how working with Meg Remy on vocal production helped her reconnect to the emotional core of her writing.The episode closes with a stripped-back live session.

Artist: Bria Salmena
Song: “Closer to You”
Album: Big Dog

Host and Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji

Recording Engineer: Chris Goldsmith
Mix Engineer: Max Walker
Creative: Callum Baker
Recording Location: Thin White Duke Studios, London

In this episode of&nbsp;The Hardest Part, host Kieron Banerji is joined by Bria Salmena to unpack the winding creative journey behind &ldquo;Closer to You,&rdquo; a standout track from her debut solo album&nbsp;Big Dog.
Written across two cities&mdash;Bria in Los Angeles, Duncan Hay Jennings in Toronto&mdash;the song came to life through long-distance collaboration and relentless back-and-forth. What started as an acoustic skeleton became a hybrid of organic and electronic textures, reshaped again and again as Bria searched for the right emotional tone. But the hardest part? Landing the chorus. Or even deciding if it&nbsp;was&nbsp;a chorus. Bria reflects on the frustration of not finding that &ldquo;aha&rdquo; moment and how letting go of control, embracing creative blocks, and learning to trust the process ultimately allowed the song to take its final form.
She also shares how the lyric &ldquo;move me closer to you&rdquo;&nbsp;evolved from a call toward someone else into a deeper pull inward&mdash;and how working with Meg Remy on vocal production helped her reconnect to the emotional core of her writing.The episode closes with a stripped-back live session.
Artist: Bria Salmena Song: &ldquo;Closer to You&rdquo; Album:&nbsp;Big Dog
Host and Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji
Recording Engineer: Chris Goldsmith Mix Engineer: Max Walker Creative: Callum Baker Recording Location: Thin White Duke Studios, London

Hosted by Kieron Banerji, The Hardest Part dives deep into the most challenging songs ever written. Every two weeks, an artist joins Kieron in the studio to break down the struggles, breakthroughs, and raw emotions behind their toughest songwriting experiences. From overcoming creative blocks to tapping into painful memories, these conversations reveal the delicate balance between self-expression and self-protection.

Each episode wraps with an exclusive live performance of the song—raw, real, and sometimes heard this way for the first time.

Follow the Hardest Part wherever you get your podcasts, and watch footage from the show on our YouTube and socials.

Hosted by Kieron Banerji,&nbsp;The Hardest Part dives deep into the most challenging songs ever written. Every two weeks, an artist joins Kieron in the studio to break down the struggles, breakthroughs, and raw emotions behind their toughest songwriting experiences. From overcoming creative blocks to tapping into painful memories, these conversations reveal the delicate balance between self-expression and self-protection.
Each episode wraps with an exclusive live performance of the song&mdash;raw, real, and sometimes heard this way for the first time.
Follow the Hardest Part wherever you get your podcasts, and watch footage from the show on our YouTube and socials.

The Hardest Part

Hosted by Kieron Banerji, The Hardest Part dives deep into the most challenging songs ever written. Every week, an artist joins Kieron in the studio to break down the struggles, breakthroughs, and raw emotions behind their toughest songwriting experiences. From overcoming creative blocks to tapping into painful memories, these conversations reveal the delicate balance between self-expression and self-protection.

Each episode wraps with an exclusive live performance of the song—raw, real, and sometimes heard this way for the first time.

Follow the Hardest Part wherever you get your podcasts, and watch footage from the show on our YouTube and socials.

Hosted by Kieron Banerji, The Hardest Part dives deep into the most challenging songs ever written. Every week, an artist joins Kieron in the studio to break down the struggles, breakthroughs, and raw emotions behind their toughest songwriting experiences. From overcoming creative blocks to tapping into painful memories, these conversations reveal the delicate balance between self-expression and self-protection.
Each episode wraps with an exclusive live performance of the song—raw, real, and sometimes heard this way for the first time.
Follow the Hardest Part wherever you get your podcasts, and watch footage from the show on our YouTube and socials.

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